FALCON FLASH
Dateline: Cleveland, Ohio
May 9, 2012
Click here to read what happened earlier
Be sure to watch the falcons carefully for changes in behavior and development at:
Our thanks to the Cleveland Museum of Natural History for sponsoring the FalconCams and for the stills.
Photos are courtesy of Scott Wright. Thanks to falcon fan Robert Weiner for the banding video. They can be used in any non-commercial publication, electronic or print, but please give photo credit.
More pictures and information have come in from Banding Day. Here’s how it went - the humans stepped into the nest and had to use their “falcon shield” as SW attacked………………….
The eyass was brought inside the skyscraper and the Ohio Division of Wildlife biologists determined that she is a female. We have some video that shows the action. If you listen carefully, you will hear the biologists talking about her full crop. Also, watch for a glimpse of some “real” juvenile feathers that will replace her white down. Here is a link to the video:
The first juvenile feathers are brown. Adult feathers are a dark slate blue.
TThe three-week-old eyass seems to be developing well. She was checked over and blood was drawn. Bands were attached to her legs using a special tool. On one leg is a color band - 29/U black/red. On the other leg is a U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service band - # 907-02675. he three-week-old eyass seems to be developing well. She was checked over and blood was drawn. Bands were attached to her legs using a special tool. On one leg is a color band - 29/U black/red. On the other leg is a U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service band - # 907-02675.
The biologists were unable to look into the mystery of what happened to the other 3 eggs, because SW and Boomer had somehow disposed of them.
Before long, the eyass was returned to the nestbox and to her worried parents. She is beginning to get real feathers, exercising her muscles by walking, and thinking about flying. Believe it or not, she will be as big as her parents and will take her first real flight in just a few weeks.
Click here to read what happened next
